TechRadar News

• Some older Apple Watch models have been unable to update properly
• The problem means they may not be able to sync with your iPhone
• It’s almost certainly a mistake by Apple and will hopefully be fixed soon

If you have an older Apple Watch and have noticed that it’s been unable to update properly, you might not be alone. According to info circulating on social media, Apple has mistakenly excluded many Apple Watch users from upgrading their devices to a more recent version of watchOS.

Specifically, the concerns center on the Apple Watch Series 4, Series 5 and first-generation SE models. For instance, X user @MasterMike88 claimed that if one of these Apple Watches is running a watchOS version prior to 10.6.1, it will not be able to update to that version.

This is a problem because it means that users of older Apple Watch models will not be able to get potentially important security and feature upgrades included in watchOS 10.6.1.

We’d always recommend ensuring your Watch is running the latest version of Apple’s software, but in this instance, it looks like that’s not possible. Hopefully Apple will push out a fix soon.

That syncing feeling

(Image credit: Future)

There’s another potential problem: an Apple Watch running an older version of watchOS 10 might not be able to pair with an iPhone if it is affected by this issue. If you can’t pair them, you won’t be able to sync data between the two devices.

It appears that this issue is only limited to Apple Watch models that can run watchOS 10 but not watchOS 11 – in other words, the Series 4, Series 5 and original SE editions that we mentioned earlier. More recent Apple Watches should be unaffected.

Back on X, @MasterMike88 believes that the problem stems from Apple changing the update requirements from CV (Compatibility Version) 22 to 24, which is normally associated with late versions of watchOS 11. Since the affected Watch models can’t run watchOS 11, they can’t install an update that they should have access to (that is, watchOS 10.6.1).

Because of that, we suspect that this is a mistake on Apple’s part rather than any deliberate plan, and that means it’s likely that Apple will fix this issue soon. If you’re affected, you’ll have to hang tight until Apple sorts this issue out.

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• DeepSeek says it is suffering from a huge cyberattack
• The attack has prevented new users from registering
• A DDoS attack is rumored to be the cause of the outage

DeepSeek has had to temporarily pause new signups to its generative AI chatbot due to “large-scale malicious attacks” against the platform.

The open source model was recently released to the public, causing ripples across the technology industry, sending US markets into freefall.

The relatively new platform has shot to number one on the US app store, replacing ChatGPT as the most popular free app, and has been rumored to have cost as little as $5.6 million to develop.

No new users

This growth has apparently resulted in some unwanted attention, and DeepSeek has not shared any details about the attack, but due to the systems the attack is affecting, it is possibly a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack against the platform’s API and Web Chat services.

The DeepSeek status page simply states, “Due to large-scale malicious attacks on DeepSeek's services, we are temporarily limiting registrations to ensure continued service. Existing users can log in as usual. Thanks for your understanding and support.”

While registering for new users is currently unavailable the service can still be accessed by signing in with a Google account, with a user's email, language preference and profile picture being shared with DeepSeek in return.

Despite numerous sanctions enacted by the Biden administration aimed at depriving China of the latest semiconductors, initial tests suggest that the DeepSeek model outperforms its US counterparts despite being developed for a fraction of the cost.

Being released as open source means that the model is free to download and use by other AI developers, significantly disrupting the AI market in the US and causing huge sell-offs of shares in US tech companies. Whether the US will face this new-found competition in the AI arms race with innovation or increased sanctions remains to be seen.

Via CNBC

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• Microsoft Teams is finally introducing a phishing alert function
• The feature will be generally available in mid-February 2025
• Hackers have been abusing external comms to hit organizations with malware and ransowmare

Microsoft Teams has long been a favorite target for hackers looking to infiltrate organizations by impersonating brands or network administrators, but that is all finally about to change.

Numerous threat actors have abused external access, with one Russian group ‘bombing’ a user's email inbox with thousands of emails before pretending to be an IT support worker calling to help fix the spam, before gaining remote access and deploying malware.

A phishing warning for external messages has therefore been a long time coming, with the feature set to be introduced by Microsoft in mid-February 2025.

Phishing detector

The phishing threat alert was first rumoured in October 2024 in the Microsoft 365 roadmap, with a subsequent advisory added to the Microsoft 365 service update page stating the system would be generally available around mid-February 2025.

“This rollout will happen automatically by the specified date with no admin action required before the rollout. You may want to update any relevant documentation. We recommend that you educate your users on what the new high-risk Accept/Block screen means and remind users to proceed with caution.”

Phishing checks will happen every time a user receives a message from an external source for the first time, Microsoft added, further explaining that an ‘Accept or block’ prompt will appear over suspicious chats, with the user being reminded to recognize that the message could be phishy if they choose to click accept.

External access can be disabled in the Microsoft Teams Admin Center, preventing risky external communications entirely, but those who regularly need to use external messaging will have to remain extra vigilant until mid-February. Microsoft recommends that organizations train their employees to spot and report suspicious phishing emails and messages.

Via BleepingComputer

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• OCR and image recognition data are being stored insecurely in OneDrive for Business, expert claims
• Locally stored data is putting companies at risk of leaks
• Hybrid working amplifies the security challenges

Security expert Brian Maloney has criticized Microsoft for storing OneDrive for Business files insecurely on users’ devices.

He claims the popular cloud storage tool allegedly stores data obtained from image OCR in an unsecured database on account holders’ PCs, putting them at risk of data exfiltration.

Although there are benefits to storing data locally, it can pose security concerns if the storage is inadequately protected, Maloney has claimed.

OneDrive for Business storing files locally, but insecurely

Microsoft, together with other companies like Apple, uses OCR (optical character recognition) and image recognition to enhance search and other features.

In a series of X posts, Maloney wrote: “Just a heads up. M$ is OCRing all your images in OneDrive for business in an unsecured database on your desktop/laptop. Happy Friday. #DFIR.”

Because OCR is stored in plain text, attackers who are successful in obtaining access to the databases can acquire potentially sensitive information from unknowing victims.

vx-underground.org added to Maloney’s work on X, sharing: “Any image saved with OneDrive is stored locally in a SQLite file (for offline mode, or something).”

Although business-issued hardware typically involved additional layers of security, such as encrypted storage, biometric security, and access to company systems via protected networks such as VPNs, the rise of hybrid working now means that more workers are accessing their business accounts, including OneDrive for Business, from their own personal hardware, which might not have such strong protection.

TechRadar Pro has asked Microsoft to comment on its decision not to protect OCR databases, but we have not received an immediate response.

In the meantime, users should consider only enabling features that they intend to use in order to minimize risk. Employees should also be vigilant to attacks, including avoiding clicking on suspicious links and sharing credentials online.

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• Google is making the code for now-discontinued smartwatch Pebble available to download
• Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky claims to be working on a new smartwatch using PebbleOS
• The smartwatch is still in early development, but will adhere to Pebble’s core tenets

Before the Apple Watch, before the Samsung Galaxy Watch, and before the Google Pixel Watch, there was Pebble. The iconic smartwatch was eventually bought by Fitbit and discontinued in 2016 (and in a cruel twist, the same fate befell many of the best Fitbits after Fitbit was bought by Google), but many users still have fond memories of their Pebbles, and an active community of users are still maintaining functional Pebbles.

Now, it seems like Pebble is ready for a comeback. Google, with no plans to disrupt sales of the Google Pixel Watch 3 and Fitbit’s best fitness trackers, don’t seem to care to release an official Pebble, but they are throwing a bone to the community by preparing to make PebbleOS open source, according to a recent blog post.

For the uninitiated, open source means that anyone will be able to download the source code for Pebble watches, make changes, and publish their versions to the internet for free. This will allow tech-savvy Pebble fans to keep their watches operational - and pave a way for the iconic smartwatch’s return under a new name.

Eric Migicovsky, Pebble’s founder, told TechCrunch that he’s devoted himself full time to creating a new third-party smartwatch. In a blog post on his own website, he writes; “The company behind it failed but millions of Pebbles in the world kept going, many of them still to this day.

(Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

“I wear my Pebble every day. It's been great (and I'm astounded it’s lasted 10 years!), but the time has come for new hardware.”

Migicovsky is the project’s only current full-time employee. Using PebbleOS, the future smartwatch, which will be released under a different name than Pebble, will (according to Migicovsky’s blog post) conform to the following tenets:

• Always-on e-paper screen
• Long battery life
• Simple "and beautiful" UX "around a core set of features [Migicovsky uses] regularly (telling time, notifications, music control, alarms, weather, calendar, sleep/step tracking)"
• Buttons
• Hackable

You can sign up for information on the project at rePebble.com.

Analysis: Migicovsky’s perfect watch

Migicovsky’s ideal watch, on the surface, certainly sounds like one I’d wear in rotation. I love the memory-in-pixel screen you can get on the best Garmin watches and other digital watch-style aesthetics, so the e-paper screen with minimal distractions, long battery life and physical buttons are music to my ears.

With watches reaching a sort of inflection point, I believe we’ve already hit ‘peak smartwatch’ and future models are going to look more and more similar from hereon out. A back-to-basics, open source approach sounds like the breath of fresh air this form factor needs. What’s old is new again.

However, I’m acutely aware the project isn’t really off the ground yet, and may never come to fruition. The smartwatch industry has moved on from Pebble, and as much as some users might see it as a welcome change, there’s every chance most users will be too comfortable with their pre-existing watches to give an upstart any time of day. We’ll continue reporting on the new Pebble as new information comes to light.

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As 2025 arrives, it’s clear that the internet’s vast capabilities – spanning cloud services to emerging technologies like AI – depend on robust infrastructure. From smart cities to streaming services, while data might be the lifeblood of modern organizations, connectivity is the beating heart. No single technology can meet the world’s growing and diverse connectivity demands – nor should it. Instead, an intricate digital tapestry will emerge, reshaping industries and transforming the global economy.

To paint a picture of this future, here are my predictions for connectivity in 2025.

1. More people will move beyond fiber – embracing the mmWave spectrum

The notion that fiber will reach every corner of the world will be exposed as unrealistic and undesirable. While fiber makes sense in many areas, it’s not a silver bullet; financial and logistical challenges make it impractical in low-density regions. As such, mmWave will gain more recognition as a practical and desirable complement to fiber. Offering gigabit speeds wirelessly in hard-to-reach areas, mmWave delivers reliable, high-speed internet without the extensive groundwork required for fiber installation – and the wheels are already in motion.

Recently, Verizon unveiled an ambitious plan to double its fixed wireless access (FWA) subscribers to 8-9 million by 2028. By deploying mmWave radio frequency (RF) technology, the operator is targeting coverage to 90 million households, having reached its goal of 4-5 million 15 months early. This momentum reflects the growing importance of mmWave in delivering high-speed broadband services.

In 2025, expect to see a surge in the adoption of mmWave technology, particularly in markets where traditional fiber rollouts are impractical or costly. For example, the UK is preparing for the mmWave spectrum auction, unlocking high-frequency bands that promise blazing-fast 5G and transformative services across industries. From consumer electronics to smart cities, 2025 will reveal just how critical mmWave bands are for transforming our digital economy.

2. Smart cities will adopt wireless infrastructure as a key complement to fiber

Well-chosen technology will make cities safer while improving accessibility and sustainability. Local government leaders that invest in high-capacity, low-latency technologies will be able to support top-tier CCTV cameras, sensors, autonomous systems, and smart grids – strengthening security and improving outcomes for citizens. Those that don’t will struggle with inefficiencies, limited scalability, and safety risks.

For example, 4K CCTV cameras will resolve its most common problem: that CCTV is too low quality to prevent crime effectively or be used convincingly as evidence. Wireless outdoor infrastructure will enable widespread 4K CCTV and leave this problem in the past where it belongs.

Also on the rise are smart poles with integrated connectivity options, which provide urban areas with efficient and scalable networking solutions. According to ABI Research, more than 10.8 million smart poles will be installed by 2030, and it’s expected that 20% will need wireless connectivity. Every pole will need to deliver gigabits per second; as a critical connectivity option for capacity-hungry applications, mmWave will prove a key enabler. With leading players working actively on new solutions, next year will see this shift continue.

And let’s not forget autonomous vehicles: this might seem like a faraway future, but 2024 saw Waymo take driverless technology to new heights with its robotaxis, so it’s only a matter of time before this becomes a reality for public transport. Once this happens, smart vehicles like buses and trams will generate vast amounts of data that needs to be transferred to and from the cloud. This won’t be possible without wireless connectivity; city leaders that prioritize this when IT infrastructure planning will unlock not only greater efficiency but also adaptability, enabling them to keep up with constantly evolving demands.

3. mmWave-based fixed wireless access will help bridge the digital divide

In developed regions and emerging countries alike, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing connectivity challenges worldwide. In established regions like North America, underserved rural areas often lack reliable high-speed internet, despite significant infrastructure investments elsewhere in the country. Meanwhile, in emerging markets like Africa, even cities face limited internet access due to a lack of wireline connectivity and congestion of traditional spectrum options.

2025 will see mmWave-based FWA materialise as a powerful solution to plug these gaps. This is because mmWave technologies operating in the 60GHz band offer a cost-effective way to deliver ultrafast, low-latency connectivity. By bypassing the need for extensive physical infrastructure, mmWave will help democratize internet access and unlock new economic potential on a global scale.

4. 60GHz will gain traction in wireless video and enterprise applications

In 2025, the 60GHz spectrum will come into its own, transforming wireless video applications across sectors. From immersive gaming and entertainment experiences to enterprise-grade video conferencing, ultrafast and low-latency connectivity will underpin the rise of professional applications.

Virtual reality (VR), wireless HDMI, and ultra-wide screens will increasingly rely on the speed and quality of 60GHz connectivity. These developments will also play a crucial role in facilitating impactful AI and big data analysis, alongside cloudification and network function virtualization (NFV).

Additionally, as consumer and enterprise demands grow, it will become increasingly understood that business success depends not just on talent and innovation but on the speed and quality of supporting connectivity infrastructure. As 2025 will prove, time will only become a more precious commodity, so anything that speeds up progress reliably will be most welcome.

So what does this mean for infrastructure suppliers? Pushing the boundaries of connectivity — from power efficiency to manufacturability — means tackling competing demands for high performance, reliability, and energy efficiency, while striving to make products accessible and affordable. It's a constant balancing act between advancing innovation and meeting the real needs of global connectivity; striking that balance will shape 2025 as much as any technical milestone. In practice, this means adopting an adaptable approach that doesn’t just solve today’s problems but also anticipates those of tomorrow. On behalf of all digital citizens, current and future: bring on 2025.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

The software development landscape of 2024 has revealed both the potential and limitations of current AI coding tools. While 74% of developers have embraced these tools, a revealing Stack Overflow study shows 36% struggling with code reliability. This isn't a failure of AI – it's a clear indication of where AI tools need to evolve.

The emergence of "AI Debt" – the hidden costs arising from hastily deployed AI-generated code – in industry discussions highlights a crucial challenge: AI-generated code often requires extensive review and optimization before it's production-ready, diminishing the efficiency gains made in the initial code generation process.

However, studies showing tools like Copilot introducing up to 41% more bugs point not to AI's limitations, but to the need for more sophisticated approaches to AI-assisted development. What are these approaches?

Looking ahead to 2025, here are five key developments that will transform how we use AI in software development.

1. Intelligent Context Modelling Will Transform Code Generation

Next-generation AI will move beyond simple pattern matching to true contextual understanding. These systems will build comprehensive models of your codebase, architecture, and development patterns, ensuring every suggestion fits seamlessly into your existing ecosystem.

So instead of producing isolated snippets of code, they will provide suggestions that align with the broader software design and help to predict issues in performance, security and scalability.

This deep context awareness will dramatically reduce the current effort required to adapt AI-generated code to production environments. And not only will this save on developer time, but contribute to a new standard in quality for creating performance-ready AI-generated code.

2. Multi-Large Language Model (LLM) Architectures Will Replace Single-Model Dependencies

The limitations of single-model approaches will give way to sophisticated multi-LLM architectures. These systems will treat coding LLMs as modular infrastructure components, using advanced prompt engineering and model orchestration to leverage the strengths of different models. For example, one model may be optimized for code syntax and another for code refactoring.

This means companies can access parallel processing and use different LLMs best suited to process different tasks, while also enhancing their reliability by being less dependent on one model. Such adaptability will also allow companies to scale more effectively and cost-efficiently.

This architectural shift will free developers from vendor lock-in while enabling more sophisticated code generation and optimization capabilities. We’re already seeing this start to happen as the benefit of multi-modal becomes more apparent.

3. AI-Driven Code Evolution Through Genetic Algorithms

Static code generation will evolve into dynamic code optimization through genetic algorithms. Based on Darwinian principles, these systems will continuously generate, test, and refine code variations, automatically selecting the best performers based on specific metrics. For instance, the first batch of AI-generated code is the gene pool, which then, through the use of genetic algorithms, undergoes evolutionary processes, with code tested against metrics such as processing efficiency and memory usage. It’s survival of the fittest but for code optimization.

This evolutionary approach ensures code continuously improves as system and business requirements change rather than remaining static after initial generation.

4. Automated Validation Will Shift Left in Development

Real-time validation will become an embedded part of the development process. AI systems will automatically verify security, performance, and compatibility as code is written, not after, ensuring low-quality code is filtered out during the process.

This shift-left approach will integrate comprehensive testing and validation directly into the development workflow, significantly reducing post-generation review time. Ultimately, this will accelerate the overall software development cycle while also improving quality.

5. Next-Gen Intelligence Platforms Will Revolutionize Developer Workflows

The culmination of these advances will be intelligent platforms that fundamentally transform development workflows. These platforms will orchestrate multiple AI technologies while continuously learning from every interaction, code review, and deployment outcome.

What makes these platforms revolutionary is their ability to evolve alongside your development practices. By learning from successful implementations, failed attempts, and developer feedback, they'll become increasingly sophisticated in their understanding of what makes code not just functional, but optimal for specific contexts and requirements. They will evolve and improve with each iteration.

For developers, this evolution means moving beyond simple code completion to truly intelligent development assistance that understands your unique technical environment and objectives. These platforms won't just suggest code – they'll help create better, more reliable software while reducing the manual overhead that currently limits AI's potential in development.

Making the move to intelligent development platforms

The rapid development and hype around AI has led to a majority of software developers adopting AI tools for coding. But with this widespread adoption, the next step in the evolution of these tools is to significantly improve the reliability, quality and performance of AI-generated code. With current processes, much skill, time and effort is required to adapt and maintain code after it is generated. This is where the next-generation of tools will start to make their impact.

Intelligent context modelling and multi-LLM architectures will be a new breed of tools significantly reducing the effort involved in code generation and enhancing optimization capabilities. When code is being generated, genetic algorithms will use natural selection principles to ensure the best lines of code remain, while real-time validation will play its part in enhancing quality as the code is being written.

These advances will culminate in the next generation of intelligent platforms which continuously learn and evolve alongside a developer’s specific practices. Ultimately, in 2025, rather than simply using code generation tools, developers will begin to transform their processes with truly intelligent AI assistants.

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This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro

• Meta AI has added a Memory Boost feature.
• Meta AI will remember key details you share in one-on-one chats for more personalized responses.
• The AI will also use your profiles on Meta platforms to respond based on your location.

Meta AI wants to be more like your good friend who remembers all the important details about you and less like an impersonal AI chatbot. Meta is rolling out updates to its AI assistant across Messenger, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram in the U.S. and Canada to do just that.

Those engaging with Meta AI may find it remembers much more about you between conversations, including some details culled from your profiles on the various connected platforms that can personalize its recommendations.

The new Memory Boost feature is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Meta AI can now remember key details you share in one-on-one chats. Maybe you casually mention that you love hiking or that you’re fluent in Italian. Meta AI will store that tidbit in its digital brain and use it to inform future responses. A friend who remembers how you like your coffee is a good friend. Whether that same is true about an AI pal is debatable. Especially as, in this case, it’s a friend who is also keeping track of your brunch preferences, weekend plans, and which country artists you’ve been streaming.

The system is also context-sensitive, which means Meta AI doesn’t need you to spoon-feed it all the details. If you tell it you’re vegan while asking for breakfast ideas, it’ll note that for the future and stop recommending omelets or fancy frittatas. This memory feature only applies to one-on-one chats, not group conversations; you can also delete its memory whenever you want.

Personal geography

Meta AI won't just remember your personality quirks. AI is becoming more personalized by tapping the data you share via Meta's platforms. For instance, if you’re looking for family activities this weekend, Meta AI might suggest a local concert based on your location, your recent browsing habits, and its memory of you mentioning that you have two kids.

Of course, this level of personalization isn’t entirely new. Meta has been perfecting the art of AI-driven recommendations for years. What makes this different is the assistant’s ability to combine information from multiple sources, including your chat history, profile, and viewing habits, to deliver something relevant.

Trying to stand out by offering this much personalization makes sense as Meta tries to break through the clamor around AI assistants like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and others. Meta’s strategy seems to be doing what it can to embed Meta AI within its existing ecosystem of platforms used by millions of people every day. After all, why would you open a separate AI app when you can just ask Meta AI directly on WhatsApp or Facebook?

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• Ayaneo's latest Windows-based portable is the Ayaneo 3
• Ayaneo comes with modular controls, a first in the market
• Its cheapest price point is $700, and most expensive is $1,800

Ayaneo has been putting out a wide range of high-quality handheld gaming devices. While the Chinese hardware company mainly focused on Android-based portables in 2024, it’s returning to form with the new Windows-based flagship handheld first revealed in November.

The Ayaneo 3 is a direct sequel to its Ayaneo 2, which launched in February 2023 and was released as a rival to the Steam Deck. Not only does the Ayaneo 3 upgrade the specs, but it also adds new features to enhance the gaming experience.

In terms of specs, there are two models to choose from. The first comes equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U CPU with eight cores and 16 threads, 3.3GHz clock speed, and an NPU of 16 TOPS.

The second model features the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU with 12 cores and 24 threads, a base clock speed of 2GHz, and an NPU at 50TOPS. The former will be available in every configuration except the 4TB RAM one, while the latter starts at 32GB instead of 16GB and goes from there.

You can also choose between 7-inch LCD and OED displays for any model with different displays. The LCD screen has a refresh rate of 120Hz/60Hz and maxes out at 500 nits. The OLED has a 144Hz/120Hz/90Hz/60Hz refresh and maxes out at 800 nits.

Why its modular controls matter

What really sets the Ayaneo 3 apart from the rest is its modular controls, which are unique to pretty much any other gaming handheld. Modular controls mean the directional pad, analog stick, and buttons can be physically switched around or rotated to give a more customizable experience. This lets you match controls to controllers like Playstation and Xbox or create your own fighting stick for titles like Street Fighter 6.

The controls themselves are also decked out spec-wise. The joysticks and triggers use Hall-effect sensors with a 4ms response time. The triggers also have two modes: linear mode, which gives you 7.5mm of travel distance to enable precise analog input, and tactile mode, which reduces the travel to 3mm for the repeated button presses known in FPS games.

Right now, you can support the Ayaneo 3 in its crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. The price ranges from $700 for the 16GB/512GB model without a complete set of input modules and $1,800 for the 64GB/4TB with a full set. An extra set runs $100, while a backup storage case — in Starry Black, Sky White, and Retro Power — costs $33.

Though the upper pricing is an eye-watering amount (and the lowest amount is still nothing to sneeze at), it’s meant as a premium portable system with unique features. Its selling point is that its competition, like the Steam Deck or Lenovo Legion Go, can’t match it in that sense. And if the Ayaneo 3 finds its footing, it could carve out a whole new niche in the gaming handheld market.

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• ChatGPT has upgraded Canvas to be smarter and more accessible.
• Canvas now works with the OpenAI o1 model and can visualize code directly.
• It's now available to macOS desktop users.

OpenAI has enhanced ChatGPT's collaborative editing feature, Canvas, with some major upgrades. The updates make Canvas even more flexible in helping you compose and edit content and code. The brainpower boost also comes with better visuals and some love for macOS desktop users.

The most significant upgrade is that Canvas will now work with OpenAI’s new o1 model. The more deliberative o1 model is already better than previous iterations at complex reasoning and problem-solving. With o1, Canvas is better at collaborating and explaining its logic.

Imagine it more like a human partner and less like a hyper-efficient autocorrect. You can enable the o1 model in Canvas by selecting it from the model picker or typing the command “/canvas.” Free users are out of luck for now, though, as only Pro, Plus, and Team users can access the o1 model in Canvas.

But it’s not just brains; Canvas has also received a visual boost – it also now supports rendering React and HTML code. That means you can actually see your projects come to life right in the workspace. You don't have to imagine how the code would perform in a browser or run a separate testing system. Better yet, free ChatGPT users can play with this new ability right now.

Regardless of subscription level, Mac users keen to use ChatGPT more are also getting more access to the AI chatbot feature. There's now full Canvas support on the macOS ChatGPT desktop app, allowing you to do anything Canvas can provide without leaving it.

Canvas companion

The o1 model’s more deliberate thinking aims to address criticisms that AI often feels rushed or too eager to please. With the added ability to visualize React and HTML code, OpenAI has made it clear that it wants Canvas to be a playground for developers, not just a chatroom with a few extra bells and whistles.

That fits with OpenAI's and other AI developers' keenness to make AI chatbots and tools more dynamic. Editing directly within the Canvas interface and being able to comment on and prompt changes to just part of an AI answer is a subtle but powerful improvement over the standard back-and-forth.

Just being able to drop text into Canvas and assigning the AI to advise or help edit is no small thing. Sometimes, you just want criticism without it being redone. That goes double if you share complex code or a very long text.

Ultimatley, Making ChatGPT more proactive and adaptable when it comes to carrying out very specific requests is likely to be a big part of how AI is employed in the future.

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• Report finds remote-first employees log more productive hours, fewer interruptions
• Hybrid model offers flexibility but leads to shorter work breaks
• Healthcare workers face high burnout risk despite increased productivity

ActivTrak Productivity Lab's latest report on workplace productivity trends has revealed work location significantly affects productivity, and remote-first companies, where employees work remotely most of the time, are provider greater productivity, reduce interruptions, and are the most popular.

The survey covers 958 companies and 135,098 employees, offering an overview of productivity across various sectors, such as financial services, healthcare, insurance, and professional services.

It found productivity levels across various industries vary - employees in the financial sector recorded 30 more minutes of productive time per day than their peers in other sectors, with these employees also exhibiting a 9% higher healthy utilization rate, meaning they were working efficiently without the risks of burnout or underutilization.

A matter of balance?

Similarly, employees in the healthcare industry also logged more productive time than the cross-industry average, with an additional 36 minutes of work per day. However, more than one-third of healthcare employees face a high risk of burnout or disengagement, as they fall into either the overutilized or underutilized categories.

In the insurance sector, employees spend 18 fewer minutes per day in collaborative applications than their peers, but there is a 41% lower underutilization rate, suggesting that employees are generally more engaged and working to capacity.

Most companies (55%) adopt the remote-first model where employees spend over 60% of their time working remotely, however, 25% of companies prefer the hybrid approach.

Only 18% of companies use the office-first setups where employees spend the majority of their time in the office while just 2% of companies use the remote-only models, where employees work entirely from home.

Interestingly, remote-first employees log more productive hours per day on average compared to those in other models, likely due to fewer in-person meetings and interruptions. In contrast, office-first employees exhibit the most balanced work patterns, with almost 70% of their time spent in a healthy state.

Hybrid employees take slightly shorter breaks (90 minutes on average compared to 104-120 minutes for other models), suggesting that managing work across both environments might introduce more intensity into their workdays. Despite this, the hybrid model is gaining popularity for its flexibility.

ActivTrak warns that employees who spend over 75% of their time in an overutilized state risk burnout, while those who spend more than 75% of their time in an underutilized state risk disengagement.

For remote-only employees, 31% of their time is spent in an overutilized state, which is the highest among all working models. However, they are also the most focused, spending an average of 4 hours and 24 minutes per day on single tasks without interruptions. Predictably, their collaboration time is very low meaning they have fewer opportunities for group work compared to employees who spend some time in the office.

“Our latest study reveals that workplace model and location — whether office, remote or hybrid – really does impact how we work, focus and collaborate,” said the company's Chief Customer Officer and Head of Productivity Lab, Gabriela Mauch.

“As organizations contemplate flexible workforce policies, a return to the office or other changes in organizational design, it’s critical for leaders to first understand baseline productivity data and the potential impact of location on employee engagement and performance.”

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• Casetify's latest collaboration is with The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.
• The collection consists of phone cases, charm bracelets, and earbuds case covers.
• Beyond the can of Campbell's soup it also celebrates the iconic banana.

Casetify’s known for some pretty epic cases thanks to impressive collaborations with the likes of sports leagues, Disney, Netflix, and countless others. As for the latest ‘Co-Lab’ you can add to the list, it goes to Andy Warhol – specifically, a partnership with The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

Of course, the classic can of Campbell’s Soup has been transformed into several fun case designs. However, what really caught our attention is the Co-Labs take on Andy Warhol’s banana that was featured on the album cover of The Velvet Underground's first LP. It’s a classic for sure, and Casetify’s take on this is both ultra-fun, a significant homage, and somewhat impractical.

But then again, some of the most fun phone cases are more talking points than actually protective.

(Image credit: Casetify)

The Andy Warhol Banana Collectible Phone Case is simply an oversized case that takes the shape of a banana. It still gives you access to the power buttons and volume rockers, though we aren't exactly sure about charging. Considering it’s made from silicone, though, you should be able to remove the phone easily.

It also comes with three stickers that can be removed and reattached to personalize the case a bit. While the case itself is inspired by Andy Warhol, you could also use it to live out your dream of having a banana phone or to do some monkeying around—forgive the pun.

Maybe most importantly, though, it lets you pay homage to superstars and rockstars with a really delightful case. Now, if you want something a little more practical and, say, standard-sized, Casetify does have a few more regular iPhone cases with takes of Andy Warhol’s iconic banana on the back. These include the Banana Pattern Case, which places several of the iconic works, and one called the Banana Peel, in which you can peel back the top of the banana to reveal a vibrant, hot pink look at the inside of the fruit.

As you might have guessed, these cases follow Casetify’s normal pricing strategy in that they’re not ultra-cheap. But, you get what you pay for here. The oversized Banana Collectible Phone Case is $106 for most phones, while the more standard cases land around $60 and fall within the brand's ‘Impact’ case lineup. This means it can survive up to 8.2 feet drops – at least, that’s what Casetify promises.

You can check out the full lineup of the Casetify x Andy Warhol here, but if you’re eyeing a case, we would check out soon as these ‘Co-Labs’ are known to sell out.

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Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,000 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1100) - hint #1 - Vowels How many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1100) - hint #2 - repeated letters Do any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1100) - hint #3 - uncommon letters Do the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1100) - hint #4 - starting letters (1) Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1100) - hint #5 - starting letters (2) What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• T

• D

• I

• P

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1100) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1100, are…

• TOKEN
• DAISY
• INANE
• PLIED

I’m trying hard not to get drawn towards the first word first in Quordle, instead looking at all four and seeing which one looks the easiest to complete. I apply the same policy in car parks – I’d rather park 400 yards away from an entrance in an easy spot than right next to it squeezed between two trucks. The path of least resistance works with Quordle, too.

Anyway, the rarely spotted letter K aside a fairly standard Quordle without too much stress – or words that haven’t been used since 1812.

Meanwhile, the Daily Sequence was an absolute stinker today, with four words all ending in the same letter and one word containing zero vowels. Congratulations if you completed it.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Daily Sequence today (game #1100) - the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1100, are…

• BONEY
• SLYLY
• NANNY
• GODLY

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1099, Monday 27 January: ANGEL, GLOBE, MAYOR, BRAVE
• Quordle #1098, Sunday 26 January: WATER, ORBIT, BRIDE, TOUCH
• Quordle #1097, Saturday 25 January: GIVER, GROOM, GUSTO, MAKER
• Quordle #1096, Friday 24 January: GRIND, STOCK, SERVE, TOUCH
• Quordle #1095, Thursday 23 January: RUGBY, SASSY, WORRY, BANAL
• Quordle #1094, Wednesday 22 January: SLANT, TRUNK, WOOZY, EATEN
• Quordle #1093, Tuesday 21 January: CHART, VIGOR, PRINT, SPAWN
• Quordle #1092, Monday 20 January: SIXTY, THONG, TATTY, ROBIN
• Quordle #1091, Sunday 19 January: WREST, RINSE, SCOUR, CANNY
• Quordle #1090, Saturday 18 January: BLARE, ITCHY, BICEP, PIPER
• Quordle #1089, Friday 17 January: CATCH, WEARY, SWOON, LATHE
• Quordle #1088, Thursday 16 January: PARTY, BLUNT, TWEED, PLANT
• Quordle #1087, Wednesday 15 January: RISEN, PLATE, RURAL, ENVOY
• Quordle #1086, Tuesday 14 January: SWARM, SCRAP, ONION, BELCH
• Quordle #1085, Monday 13 January: EYING, GIDDY, CHEAP, PETAL
• Quordle #1084, Sunday 12 January: BRIEF, PETAL, WOMAN, FELON
• Quordle #1083, Saturday 11 January: ASCOT, FIBER, ROGUE, SMELL
• Quordle #1082, Friday 10 January: BIGOT, INLET, LEECH, TUNIC
• Quordle #1081, Thursday 9 January: RESET, HUMOR, TENOR, IMAGE
• Quordle #1080, Wednesday 8 January: MINCE, SADLY, RISEN, VOUCH

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need clues.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #597) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• DEMON
• LAUGH
• JOKER
• AIRHEAD
• CARD
• BAND
• CHESS
• DUMBBELL
• SNICKER
• CHARACTER
• MAT
• MAR
• BUMP
• MOUND
• DIAL
• BENCH

NYT Connections today (game #597) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Ha-ha-ha
• GREEN: Home gym 
• BLUE: Sweets missing something
• PURPLE: You “need” to add this

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #597) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: FUNNY PERSON 
• GREEN: RESISTANCE TRAINING EQUIPMENT 
• BLUE: CANDY BARS MINUS "S" 
• PURPLE: SPEED ___ 

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #597) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #597, are…

• YELLOW: FUNNY PERSON CARD, CHARACTER, JOKER, LAUGH
• GREEN: RESISTANCE TRAINING EQUIPMENT BAND, BENCH, DUMBBELL, MAT
• BLUE: CANDY BARS MINUS "S" AIRHEAD, MAR, MOUND, SNICKER
• PURPLE: SPEED ___ BUMP, CHESS, DEMON, DIAL

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 3 mistakes

I really struggled today and I doubt I’m alone. JOKER, CARD and CHARACTER are fine for FUNNY PERSON, but LAUGH? I wasted two mistakes on that one. I know if someone is funny, you might say they’re a good “laugh” but it still feels like a verb in a group of nouns.

Oh well, I’ll get over it!

Meanwhile, I took ages to get the CANDY BARS MINUS “S” as both MOUND(S) and AIRHEAD(S) are not available in the UK, where I’m based, and I was instead drawn to linking MOUND with BUMP. I’m pretty sure Mounds are the same as our Bounty bars, but I’m not sure if there’s a European equivalent of Airheads.

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Monday, 27 January, game #596)

• YELLOW: SMALL AMOUNT OF FOOD TO TRY BITE, MOUTHFUL, SAMPLE, TASTE
• GREEN: PROTECTIVE COVERINGS IN NATURE BARK, SCALES, SHELL, SKIN
• BLUE: "EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL" EXTRA, OIL, OLIVE, VIRGIN
• PURPLE: SEEN IN "THE SHINING" AXE, HEDGE MAZE, TWINS, TYPEWRITER

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #331) - hint #1 - today's theme What is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Stable supply

NYT Strands today (game #331) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• SHORE
• ROPE
• SOAP
• RUSH
• NEAR
• SHINE

NYT Strands today (game #331) - hint #3 - spangram What is a hint for today's spangram?

• Ride that pony

NYT Strands today (game #331) - hint #4 - spangram position What are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

First side: right, 4th row

Last side: left, 3rd row

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #331) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #331, are…

• CROP
• REINS
• SADDLE
• HARNESS
• BRIDLE
• SPURS
• SPANGRAM: HORSEBACK RIDING

• My rating: Easy
• My score: 1 hint

Apart from having the longest Spangram I've ever seen – beating last September’s ROOT VEGETABLES with 15 letters – today’s Strands was a walk, or should we say ride, in the park. Let me know if you’ve seen a longer one.

Naturally, I was hoping that a nosebag would be on the list. Although it is not really something you’d need for HORSEBACK RIDING, I enjoy how it’s become slang for mindlessly eating snacks. Something I may do now and then!

How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Monday, 27 January, game #330)

• SLOTS
• CRAPS
• POKER
• BLACKJACK
• ROULETTE
• BACCARAT
• SPANGRAM: GAMBLING

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

• iOS 18.3 is out now for all users, alongside a few other Apple software updates.
• For the first time, this update enables Apple Intelligence by default.
• This update rolls out a fix for Notification Summaries and improvements to Visual Intelligence.

After a few weeks of developer and public betas, Apple finally released iOS 18.3 to the public today – meaning that if you have an iPhone capable of running the software, you can install it as an over-the-air update right now.

It also delivers two significant improvements to Apple Intelligence and turns on the suite of features by default. Still, in the world of Apple Software Updates, iOS 18.3 stands as a smaller one that does more work under the hood rather than providing flashy new features.

Apple also released several updates for its other devices: iPadOS 18.3, macOS Sequoia 15.3, and watchOS 11.3. Updates for the Apple Vision Pro, the HomePod and HomePod mini, and the Apple TV 4K also dropped, so now is a good time to check for updates.

The big change, though, with Apple's most recent software updates is that Apple Intelligence is being enabled by default. So, if you don't want the ChatGPT integration for Siri, Image Playground, custom emojis, writing tools, or notification summaries, in that case, you'll need to navigate to Settings and turn off the suite of features.

(Image credit: Future)

Leading the feature pack with iOS 18.3 are new tricks for Visual Intelligence. Initially teased in September 2024 when Apple first unveiled the iPhone 16 lineup, the Camera Control could do a bit more beyond taking photos, including letting you take a picture of anything and either search for it on Google or ask ChatGPT for help.

Now, with iOS 18.3, Visual Intelligence can help you identify a pet – it worked well with my mini Bernedoodle, Rosie – and different types of plants. Further, if you scan a poster or something with a date on it, you can export that right to your calendar to create a new event.

It certainly makes Visual Intelligence more useful. Considering it’s similar to Google Lens and other apps, including ChatGPT’s iOS app, which has become more multi-modal, Apple is certainly looking to improve the experience continuously. It’s also building out Apple Intelligence features; remember, these are all still in beta.

The other Apple Intelligence feature that’s getting an update here is Notification Summaries, and this is the fix or solution that the tech giant promised after the feature caused a few very public issues. You might recall that BBC News called out the feature for summarizing a story about the accused killer of United HealthCare CEO Brian Thompson quite incorrectly.

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

With iOS 18.3, Notification Summaries for ‘News and Entertainment’ apps are off by default, and you can turn the functionality on or off per app. Turning the feature off for news entirely shows that Apple is making some more tweaks under the hood and will likely reenable this when it feels the feature is ready for prime time.

All other apps with notification summaries turned on will be presented in italics to let you know they are being generated through Apple Intelligence.

And if you’ve already been running iOS 18.1 or iOS 18.2, iOS 18.3 will automatically enable Apple Intelligence on your device, assuming it can run it. You can still go into Settings to turn it off, but this is the first time it is being enabled by default, and the same switch-on occurs with macOS Sequoia 15.3 and iPadOS 18.3.

As with most other Apple software updates, iOS 18.3 also includes bug fixes and security updates, so it’s always advisable to keep your iPhone and other Apple devices up to date.

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• Hidden dependencies pose unseen risks in modern software systems, says report
• Function-level analysis slashes unnecessary vulnerability fixes by 90%
• Advisory delays leave systems exposed to potential exploitations

As organizations increasingly rely on third-party components and open source libraries to accelerate development processes, experts have warned addressing the security risks associated with these dependencies has become a significant priority.

Endor Labs' 2024 Dependency Management Report explores the evolving challenges in managing software dependencies and vulnerabilities, and analysis of seven programming languages (Java, Python, Rust, Go, C#, .NET, Kotlin, and Scala) found fewer than 9.5% of vulnerabilities in 2024 were considered 'real threats'.

“A lot of organizations are struggling with managing dependency risks," noted Darren Meyer, staff research engineer at Endor Labs. "They're drowning in vulnerability alerts, many of which don't represent relevant risk; researching the alerts is expensive for security teams (and software teams), and trying to fix everything is even more expensive."

Dependency management

Managing dependencies is not a simple task as most software projects rely on multiple layers of dependencies, including first-party code libraries, frameworks, and operational dependencies that support production environments, creating a web of interconnected components - and any vulnerability within this web could expose an organization to significant security risks.

The use of third-party components, particularly open source software, is a common practice in modern software development because it reduces the time developers need to spend writing foundational code, offering pre-built functionalities that accelerate development cycles - but also brings unique security challenges due to vulnerabilities in these external components.

Many security issues stem from "phantom dependencies," or hidden components that are not explicitly documented in the software’s code, and can introduce vulnerabilities that traditional tools fail to detect.

These vulnerabilities aren't helped by the fact that nearly 70% of advisories issued by vulnerability management platforms, such as NIST's NVD, are published after the corresponding security patch is released, with a median delay of 25 days.

Endor also claims that almost half of the advisories in public vulnerability databases lack code-level details, while only 2% provide function-specific vulnerability information, making it difficult for security teams to determine whether known vulnerabilities can be exploited in their applications.

In addition, Endor analysis from 1,250 updates from vulnerable to non-vulnerable versions shows that 24% of fixes require a major version update while 6% of vulnerabilities could be fixed with minor or patch-level updates.

Endor therefore argues that not all vulnerabilities pose the same level of risk, with organizations being advised to focus on the most reachable and exploitable vulnerabilities, as only about 9.5% of vulnerabilities in dependencies are exploitable at the function level.

Reachability analysis, which determines whether a vulnerable function in a dependency is called by the application’s code, emerges as one of the most effective methods for reducing the noise in vulnerability reporting. By focusing on vulnerabilities that have a clear path to being exploited, organizations can reduce their remediation efforts by nearly 90%, according to the report.

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• NPR claim to have intel on a new plan for Oracle to be part-buyers in TikTok
• The President is denying any knowledge, but Congressional staffers are less tight-lipped
• At press time, TikTok is still unavailable on Google and Apple's app stores due to imminent ban

Oracle could be next in line to take over ownership of embattled social media giant TikTok from ByteDance, if new reports are to be believed.

An NPR exclusive, fuelled by correspondence with “two people with direct knowledge of the talks”, claims that a murky deal involving the cloud storage titan is in the early stages; albeit complicated by President Trump’s own desires for the US itself to have a 50% equity stake in the company, and “a group of outside investors”, including Microsoft, also showing interest.

The new deliberations offer TikTok a stay of execution after it was supposed to have been banned in the US in the event of no plan for a sale to American buyers being in place (a process known as qualified divestiture), thanks to a law passed by Congress in April 2024.

Oracle TikTok deal?

Given the speculation, it’s no surprise President Trump reportedly refused to comment when asked about prospective talks supposedly held with Oracle chief Larry Ellison about the deal, meaning ultimately, we just don’t know all that much about the plan - yet.

One of NPR’s sources, however, did claim, at present, the deal would give the US direct oversight over TikTok as a platform, but that ByteDance ”wouldn’t completely go away”.

Though the original deadline for a sale to occur before a ban was January 19, 2025, the newly-sitting President signed an executive order that provided a 75-day extension - despite the contention of legal scholars.

Though TikTok service is still operational in the US as a result of the order, Google and Apple have both delisted it from their respective mobile app stores, most likely to toe the line of the law.

A Congressional staffer involved in the talks said that "a key part [of the new deal winning approval despite passing a deadline] is showing there is no operational relationship with ByteDance [...] there needs to be no backdoors where China can potentially gain access."

White House negotiators are reportedly under the impression that TikTok could well be worth $200 billion USD, so perhaps it’s no surprise that certain forces want to keep the deal alive.

Plus, Chinese opposition to TikTok’s sale is thought to have eased recently as thoughts turn to it being used as a bargaining chip to relieve trade tariffs; a stance that would appear to make a deal going through that much more likely.

Oracle, meanwhile, has its own well-established interests in a deal. In its annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2024, it claimed a TikTok ban could hurt the cloud giant's business, as ByteDance is a customer and, in June 2022, moved its US user data to Oracle servers after initial concerns were raised about its data-handling practices in the territory.

This isn’t the first time tech giants such as Microsoft and Oracle have been named as part of prospective deals that would transfer TikTok to American ownership; in August 2020, both companies, plus such names as Walmart, Google and Twitter were named as part of a deal that could have turned the app into a creator-oriented ecommerce platform.

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• Leaks tease that the Meta Quest 4 and Pro 2 are in development
• Meta Quest Pro 2 has reportedly been canceled twice previously
• No release date or specs details right now

The third time might really be the charm, folks. Despite reports that two separate Meta Quest Pro 2 prototypes were canceled mid-development, Meta is reportedly having another crack at its high-end offering, according to insider sources – and less surprisingly, it’s apparently working on a Meta Quest 4, too.

This comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who, in his latest newsletter, cited insider sources familiar with Meta’s XR plans, with these insiders revealing that these two Quest headsets were in the works – alongside a few Meta smart glasses we’ve reported on previously such as one with a display that could land later this year.

While leaks should be taken with a pinch of salt (unofficial info can always change, especially with Meta, who we’ve seen cancel in-development projects previously), the Meta Quest 4 being in the works shouldn’t be much of a shocker. While the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S aren’t quite matching the standout success of the wildly popular Meta Quest 2, they are still doing well for themselves – per the Meta Quest phone app’s Christmas day success and the Quest 3’s growing popularity in the Steam Hardware Survey (it’s up to 20.14% of all headsets used, behind only the Quest 2 at 34.21%).

(Image credit: Meta) Meta Quest Pro 2: back for round three

What’s more interesting, is that a Meta Quest Pro 2 could be on the way. Gurman doesn’t go into specifics but says that Meta is working on “a new high-end model that could eventually become a successor to the Quest Pro mixed-reality headset.” Not much else is known, but Gurman could be referring to a previously teased Meta prototype that was potentially set to replace the two canceled Quest Pro 2 prototypes we’d heard about: Puffin.

For context, back in July 2023, we reported that the Meta Quest Pro 2 had been canceled – or, more specifically, that the prototype many believed would develop into being the Quest Pro 2 (to use Meta’s semantic language) had been shelved. Things went quiet until 2024 when, in February, there was buzz that Meta and LG could partner on a high-end headset with OLED displays to rival the Apple Vision Pro. However, our initial excitement turned to disappointment fairly swiftly.

In May, there was talk that the LG partnership was off, followed by reports in August that the OLED Quest pro 2 Project – codenamed La Jolla – had kicked the bucket. Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth again clarified that technically, the Quest Pro 2 wasn’t canceled, just a prototype, but it didn’t dispel the sense that the Quest Pro line was doomed.

That is until we heard about Puffin, a third prototype XR device, which Gurman could be referring to in his report. Puffin was leaked back in 2024 when we heard about the La Jolla cancellation, and it offers us a completely different concept for a headset – a lightweight (110g) glasses-looking device for VR and MR rather than AR like other specs.

Ar glasses, like Orion, are the future (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

What I like about the Puffin leak is it plays into Meta’s promise of what its Pro-line should be – a look at the future of XR.

While I love VR headsets, the clear industry trend is that glasses are the next stage of evolution for this field – even if, at first, they’ll be less capable to account for weight and size restrictions. Puffin, with a design that isn’t trying to be like regular glasses – and so could get away with design decisions like putting a battery puck in your pocket like the Apple Vision Pro or having a bulkier frame – could focus on function over fashion, and in-keeping with the Quest Pro’s promise show us where accessible XR tech could be in a few years by giving us a glimpse via a prosumer product that won’t be the cheapest.

We’ll obviously have to wait and see what Meta has up its sleeve, as it could be that Puffin and the Quest Pro 2 are distinct gadgets, but I seriously hope they aren’t. While I liked the original Quest Pro at launch, it didn’t get the software support it craved and ended up being too mundane of an upgrade – resulting in it being outclassed too quickly.

Puffin sounds like a far more engaging proposition with a unique design that could give the Quest Pro 2 the staying power it desperately needs.

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• The KN1 mini PC has one of the largest touchpads I've seen on a Mac or Windows device
• I am not convinced by its ergonomics though but at its price, I am happy to give it a go

Have you ever imagined a mini PC and thought, “What if it had a touchpad slapped on top?” Well, the Kidwants KN1 Touch Mini PC might be exactly what you’ve always wanted.

The KN1 Touch is a compact desktop PC equipped with a dual-core Intel Celeron N4000 processor which operates at speeds of up to 2.6 GHz and includes a 4 MB cache.

With an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 600, the KN1 supports 4K resolution (3840 x 2160) and a dual-monitor setup via HDMI. Interestingly, the literature claims to support VGA, but product images don't feature any such port.

Mini PC with built in touchpad

As for the connectivity that is present; beyond Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Ethernet connectivity, there are four USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

It's also equipped with 8 GB of LPDDR4 RAM (not quite enough in this day and age for a desktop in regular use, I would argue) and 128 GB of built-in eMMC storage, while supporting M.2 2280 SATA SSD expansion "up to 1 TB".

But the stand-out feature is the touchpad built into the chassis. Supporting left and right-click functionality, the touchpad permits single-finger navigation, two-finger scrolling, and three-finger gestures to switch between apps or minimize programs.

It's up to you whether this is revolutionary or just makes you yearn for a decidedly more portable business laptop, but in any case, the KN1 is currently available on Amazon US for $109.99; 15% off of the usual price.

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